Thailand as a Future Destination for Relocation

[edwardflory]

""" Would it be safe to assume for a single guy it could be 7000-8000 per/mo?  Does that include beer bought at Big Cunge? """

 

When I was single, probably spent more ( because no REAL cooking at "home" ) also don't drink - maybe 3 drinks in 5 years

[GypsyT]

52 minutes ago, NoshowJones said:

The biggest downside in Thailand is the way westerners have been treated by the Thai governments.

There are silly rules, like a simple SIM cards!

They sell 8-day cards at airports. Do they really think tourists are only 8 days in Thailand!

I need the SIM for 5 month. Nobody's offering it. They ask house book and/or other BS.

 

But the biggest stupid rule is "Thai quota must be 51% on every condo building". They are 99% empty, most don't have floor and kitchen finished. Just a shell.

I've checked VT7 Thai wings, they are in that shape. Pigeons are living there rent free...

 

Can you imagine how much money is wasted! It'd be mega profits to Thailand if farands were able to buy all of them, fix them and live there. Thais don't like condo life like farangs.

 

Paranoia is deeply rooted. I don't think anything will change during next 100 years.

[Celsius]

On 1/17/2025 at 7:56 AM, kevozman1 said:

as I have approached middle age

 

How old are you. Most old people here who are 65 think they are still middle age 

[Woke to Sounds of Horking]

19 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

A bad day here is still better than the a good day in the UK.

 

You sure about that?

 

A tin of beans in the UK is about one-third the cost in TH, and you can drink out the taps in the UK. And you can breathe clean air.

[KhunLA]

21 minutes ago, Celsius said:

 

How old are you. Most old people here who are 65 think they are still middle age 

I wasn't even middle age when I got here @ 45, and no thought of making it to 90.

 

Middle age for me, at best was 35, as just hit 70, and that's a big surprise.  Be even more surprised if I make to 80.

 

Already one of the oldest members of the family, now & history wise.

[Tropicalevo]

19 hours ago, Lacessit said:

When I was researching where to retire to, I looked at Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand.

 

Thailand won quite easily, IMO it still does. I'm not going anywhere else.

Totally agree

We too looked at those countries . Tempted by Bali but I am sooo glad that we chose Thailand.

[Lacessit]

3 hours ago, Woke to Sounds of Horking said:

 

You sure about that?

 

A tin of beans in the UK is about one-third the cost in TH, and you can drink out the taps in the UK. And you can breathe clean air.

 

[Keeps]

13 hours ago, Woke to Sounds of Horking said:

 

A tin of beans in the UK is about one-third the cost in TH, and you can drink out the taps in the UK. And you can breathe clean air.

20 baht a day on water isn't going to break the bank and a pad gaprao moo is twelve quid in the UK so your point is?

[DonniePeverley]

Do not chose Thailand. They are letting in everyone and their dog. And the type of people coming here are utterly horrific set of people , the worst of the worst. THey come here for a few months, wanting to stay for life, make a mess, realise they can't work, then leave. 

 

Don't bother. They've opened up visas to everyone. I would have gone elsewhere. Committed here for a few more years before i can leave. 

 

And the pollution is horrifc. 

[In Full Agreement]

On 1/17/2025 at 8:31 AM, Hummin said:

I actually got bored after travelling all over Thailand several times by motorbikes, car and also in my earlier days by public transport. Have tried to settle with a small farm, and that would be perfect for me, if it was not for the extreme heat last year and pollution that finally broke my wibe. 

 

 

 

Sounds like you could use a hobby to combat being bored.

 

 

 

[Prubangboy]

On 1/17/2025 at 7:56 AM, kevozman1 said:

 

 

It seems the obvious red light activity and full moon party degeneracy is not going anywhere 

 

 

Don't you have to actively seek these things out?

 

Or do they simply fall from the sky on top of you? And you alone?

[ukrules]

2 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Do not chose Thailand. They are letting in everyone and their dog. And the type of people coming here are utterly horrific set of people , the worst of the worst. THey come here for a few months, wanting to stay for life, make a mess, realise they can't work, then leave. 

 

So what? You don't need to mix with such people.

 

Avoid the absolute dumps of places and you never see all the above.

[DonniePeverley]

7 minutes ago, ukrules said:

 

So what? You don't need to mix with such people.

 

Avoid the absolute dumps of places and you never see all the above.

 

You can't avoid them. They are everywhere. 

[ukrules]

39 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

You can't avoid them. They are everywhere. 

 

I've been here since before 2010, easily doable.

[Hummin]

6 hours ago, In Full Agreement said:

 

 

 

Sounds like you could use a hobby to combat being bored.

 

 

 

Oh man, trust me, I have a complete functional gym at my home in Isan, used to have 4 motorbikes, tools enough to build a house, large land to grow, livestock, 3 dogs one cat, and have in Thailand done climbing, kayaking, diving, freediving, Mui Thai, boxing, paragliding, hiking, walking the beaches, swimming, but now mostly only my dirtbikes and lifting. 

 

However never bored back home when Im fishing. Can fish for 8 hour straight, and not bored for one sec. Same chopping wood, 

 

I need the real thing and not going to try escaping boredom with time thiefs when I can do something productive. 

 

And to be true, I spend whay to much time here because of boredom. So thats a good reason for not invedt more here for me. 

 

Thailand is great if you happy to settle here and just meet up at the bars. Golf, read, touring once and awhile, and enjoy, but I find that hard. 

 

Especially to find silence, clean air, quality food, water, and also a secured future. I have enough founds for a strongher baht, but still I have maybe 30+ more years, and that worries me a bit when it comes to future living in Thailand. 

 

If I was 70, maybe not so much. Anyway, things can change in future, so always good to have options. 

[Woke to Sounds of Horking]

7 hours ago, Keeps said:

and a pad gaprao moo is twelve quid in the UK so your point is?

 

That one can breathe clean air in the UK (and Norway) year round mate.

 

Cheeers buddy

[spidermike007]

I don't consider any of what you said to be relevant. 

I suppose if I had unlimited finances, I would probably leave. I despise the government and immigration here, and it does feel like the nation is moving backwards. But, considering the fact that I do not have a fortune, I will stay. There are many issues to consider. Going back to the US is not an option. I would not want to live there now, unless I was being paid over a million dollars a year, and then I would only do it for 3 years, and then leave. For me, it is about quality of life, and my level of fulfillment on a daily basis, which I seem to have here in abundance. A big factor here, is the relatively light hearted attitude of the people. You just do not find that in the US, where most seem bitter, disenchanted, unfulfilled, and heavy hearted. 

 

This is an entirely subjective topic, of course. But some of us live very good lives here. Some of us have been fortunate enough to find an outstanding woman, who is delightful to be around, on a daily basis, always has our back, and is fun, smart, and lovely. For me, that likelihood of finding that back in the US, would be very low. So, that is a big factor for me. The second factor is just the quality of life. Sure, I miss alot of the culture back home. But everything in life seems to be a compromise and no place is the same as what it used to be back in the day. 

 

I have a lovely home that I rent, for about 10% of what I would pay in California, I live very well on an income which is not huge, have access to great health care, at a tiny fraction of what it costs in the US, and do not have to put up with alot of the aggravation that I had to when I lived back there.

 

It is a very personal choice. I have friends who seem to be dropping like flies. I could be dead next year. You just don't know. I am not extravagant, but I live very, very well. A nice house, a new car every few years, new motorbikes for my gal and I every few years, a great art collection, plenty of good wine in the wine cooler, a new 77" OLED TV, a world class home theatre, plenty of international travel, etc. For me, it is a great lifestyle, that I could only dream of in the US. Well worth the expense and very easy to justify. Life is way too short. 

 

Thailand is still reasonable. It used to be cheap. Has not been cheap for a long time. But, it is still reasonable. I know people who pay 10,000 baht a month for newer 3 bedroom houses in nice towns. In major cities in the US? $2000-3800 a month. That is 120,000 baht!

 

The other variable is i just find the Thai people to be very pleasant and easy to be around, many have a great sense of humor, are playful and I wake up everyday here feeling pretty damn good. It's kind of hard to beat that. I find my native country America to be very dour these days I find most people to be fairly humorless and I find a lot of bitterness, frustration, and lack of contentment back there. No thanks. 

 

[save the frogs]

On 1/16/2025 at 9:47 PM, Hummin said:

experience the dark cold winters under the stars and northern lights, is priceless 

no, experiencing dark cold winters is sth human beings should avoid if they can

 

anyone can delude themselves of anything is what I'm getting from your posts. 

 

[asdf1234]

To me its just a vacation spot now. Reading the articles here about whats going on in thailand in regards to foreigners is leading me to believe that we have outstayed our welcome

[save the frogs]

22 hours ago, NoshowJones said:

ie being treated like a common criminal with this 90 day reporting nonsense, but people who arrived here around 20 years ago will know what I mean.

thats probably because there were too many literal criminals who were unchecked 20 years ago. 

 

[save the frogs]

29 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I find my native country America to be very dour these days I find most people to be fairly humorless and I find a lot of bitterness, frustration, and lack of contentment back there. No thanks. 

Is it my imagination or does this guy cut and paste previous posts? 

I don't mind. I'm slow. I need repetition.

I agree that westerners are some of the most miserable human beings on the planet. 

 

[Hummin]

11 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

no, experiencing dark cold winters is sth human beings should avoid if they can

 

anyone can delude themselves of anything is what I'm getting from your posts. 

 

How would you know? 

 

How do you know what other people enjoy, cherish and miss doing? 

 

Deluded? Maybe you should ask yourself the question, who's deluded 

 

 

 

 

[save the frogs]

21 minutes ago, Hummin said:

How would you know? 

Because I was born in a cold climate?

I do see your point that it can be romantic though. Northern lights, being at the cottage, fireplace.

It can have some enchantment to it. But the long drawn out winters are not so sexy.  Gets dark really early, shoveling, ...

 

[CharlesHolzhauer]

On 1/17/2025 at 7:56 AM, kevozman1 said:

Whilst I do like Thailand and have done for years, I have to sit back and weigh things up as I have approached middle age, and I am ready to settle down.

Refreshing to hear – you’re one of the few who carefully and critically consider their path. At least you’re using the right 'head.' As you would know, things in Thailand, as elsewhere, are dynamic and ever-changing.

I first arrived in Thailand as a tourist in 1972, followed by many visits over the years, and eventually retired here 26 years ago with a fair understanding of what this place had to offer. I’m happy and content with my decision, but I always advise others to critically evaluate where they choose to settle. It’s a big decision that requires thoughtful consideration (especially tax related issues) 😀. Good luck.

[Hummin]

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

Because I was born in a cold climate?

I do see your point that it can be romantic though. Northern lights, being at the cottage, fireplace.

It can have some enchantment to it. But the long drawn out winters are not so sexy.  Gets dark really early, shoveling, ...

 

That's why I go back and work, because I miss it, and also miss the dark winters, but also will enjoy Thailand even more when we are back for holidays. I have said this is a short term project for both of us, and not going to be stuck in one place or another. 

 

What I'm convinced of, life is more than tropical weather, drinks, and tropical weather for good and bad, and to me, the heat, Yes I repeat myself once more for you, pollution, and the future confusing tax enforcement. 

 

I'm not old enough to say F it, I have enough for the future and can comfortably say this is enough to secure both of us. I know things will change in the future, and I go back to where I can do my best for our future. And the best part of it, I do not have to do it, and that makes a huge difference to the psychology it it. 

 

You see the world through your eyes only, and can speak for yourself based on your experiences. And last not least, havent you noticed many expats struggle living comfortable in Thailand, even they have all they need of resources? And trust me, I would regret not at least giving both of us the chance, and for her, getting dual citizenship is priceless. 

 

If I could had gained citizenship here after 5 years, It might had been a different situation, and I might had felt different, since I could actually live her on the same premises as an local with rights to own land, investing money, and work without ton of paperwork and duties. Not to forgeet the risk investing in a future here in Thailand. 

[jas007]

On 1/17/2025 at 9:35 AM, impulse said:

But I'd also be remiss not to check out Mexico, just because it's a 2 hour flight to see the family and get Medicare, not a 30 hour travesty from LOS.  That's the only downside to Thailand, especially with "pre-existing conditions" that make health insurance so expensive at my age.

 

I'm not the Mexico expert by any means, but I did look into it at one point.  I once lived in San Diego, so a trip to Mexico was simple. I never spent too much time there, but I'd go once in a while if I had a friend in town who wanted to see what it was all about. I never traveled beyond Ensenada, so I have no first hand experience with most of the country.  

 

Anyway, and for what it's worth, they've recently raised the financial requirements for anyone wanting a  long term visa.  I think the amount of monthly income required can vary somewhat, depending on your local Mexican embassy, but let's just say the increase was fairly substantial.  Some people don't have the monthly income or don't want to go through all the paperwork, so they just come and go on 180 day tourist visas  For them, it's just a matter of a visa run twice a year. 

 

The big draw for an American on Medicare with health conditions would be the proximity to the US.  Hop on a plane and you'd be back in the USA in an hour or two. 

[jas007]

On 1/17/2025 at 9:35 AM, impulse said:

But I'd also be remiss not to check out Mexico, just because it's a 2 hour flight to see the family and get Medicare, not a 30 hour travesty from LOS.  That's the only downside to Thailand, especially with "pre-existing conditions" that make health insurance so expensive at my age.

 

I'm not the Mexico expert by any means, but I did look into it at one point.  I once lived in San Diego, so a trip to Mexico was simple. I never spent too much time there, but I'd go once in a while if I had a friend in town who wanted to see what it was all about. I never traveled beyond Ensenada, so I have no first hand experience with most of the country.  

 

Anyway, and for what it's worth, they've recently raised the financial requirements for anyone wanting a  long term visa.  I think the amount of monthly income required can vary somewhat, depending on your local Mexican embassy, but let's just say the increase was fairly substantial.  Some people don't have the monthly income or don't want to go through all the paperwork, so they just come and go on 180 day tourist visas  For them, it's just a matter of a visa run twice a year. 

 

The big draw for an American on Medicare with health conditions would be the proximity to the US.  Hop on a plane and you'd be back in the USA in an hour or two. 

[carlyai]

On 1/17/2025 at 6:26 PM, Patong2021 said:

 

People with something to lose, have a different approach, They will take into consideration the following in no particular order;

- Impact on family (inclusing childcare and education)

- Access to  quality healthcare

-Tax implications

- Cost of maintaining the desired lifestyle including housing

 

Thailand attracts alot of lower income and lower social positioned people. They are not going to do better elsewhere.

Garbage. Check out the number of International schools in Thailand. Many in Pattaya. People who send their kids there are fairly well off.

[Hummin]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I don't consider any of what you said to be relevant. 

I suppose if I had unlimited finances, I would probably leave. I despise the government and immigration here, and it does feel like the nation is moving backwards. But, considering the fact that I do not have a fortune, I will stay. There are many issues to consider. Going back to the US is not an option. I would not want to live there now, unless I was being paid over a million dollars a year, and then I would only do it for 3 years, and then leave. For me, it is about quality of life, and my level of fulfillment on a daily basis, which I seem to have here in abundance. A big factor here, is the relatively light hearted attitude of the people. You just do not find that in the US, where most seem bitter, disenchanted, unfulfilled, and heavy hearted. 

 

This is an entirely subjective topic, of course. But some of us live very good lives here. Some of us have been fortunate enough to find an outstanding woman, who is delightful to be around, on a daily basis, always has our back, and is fun, smart, and lovely. For me, that likelihood of finding that back in the US, would be very low. So, that is a big factor for me. The second factor is just the quality of life. Sure, I miss alot of the culture back home. But everything in life seems to be a compromise and no place is the same as what it used to be back in the day. 

 

I have a lovely home that I rent, for about 10% of what I would pay in California, I live very well on an income which is not huge, have access to great health care, at a tiny fraction of what it costs in the US, and do not have to put up with alot of the aggravation that I had to when I lived back there.

 

It is a very personal choice. I have friends who seem to be dropping like flies. I could be dead next year. You just don't know. I am not extravagant, but I live very, very well. A nice house, a new car every few years, new motorbikes for my gal and I every few years, a great art collection, plenty of good wine in the wine cooler, a new 77" OLED TV, a world class home theatre, plenty of international travel, etc. For me, it is a great lifestyle, that I could only dream of in the US. Well worth the expense and very easy to justify. Life is way too short. 

 

Thailand is still reasonable. It used to be cheap. Has not been cheap for a long time. But, it is still reasonable. I know people who pay 10,000 baht a month for newer 3 bedroom houses in nice towns. In major cities in the US? $2000-3800 a month. That is 120,000 baht!

 

The other variable is i just find the Thai people to be very pleasant and easy to be around, many have a great sense of humor, are playful and I wake up everyday here feeling pretty damn good. It's kind of hard to beat that. I find my native country America to be very dour these days I find most people to be fairly humorless and I find a lot of bitterness, frustration, and lack of contentment back there. No thanks. 

 

And then the question is, how old are you? 

 

If Im not mistaken, OP is in his 50'ies.

 

If you where 50 now, where would you move, what would your options had been? 

 

I moved here when I was 47, and still had the colours of my first years here in my mind where my 1,- NOK was 6,50,- baht, and now 3,- baht. 

 

Tax is a question, heat seems to increase, pollution is an never ending story. 

 

Other factors I would consider is the political geographic landscape and future possible alliances. 

 

I had Brasil as a target then, and by coincidence I did against all odds meet one here who are now my wife, so thats pure luck I think now I did not end up in Brazil out of many reasons. Two major is the crime and safety, as well the political situation there.

[norfolkandchance]

On 1/18/2025 at 3:42 AM, edwardflory said:

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION is the key to good ( peaceful ) living space

 

Pattaya Bangkok and LARGE cities are no longer on our list of places to live - do visit occasionally - we have property in BKK and her home village.

 

KORAT fits the bill, rather 20 minutes outside of "downtown" Korat is my LOCATION. 

4 MAJOR stores within 10 minutes, immigration 15 minutes, natural ( free ) fishing lake 2 minutes, 2 mom & pop stores 3 to 6 minutes, 7-11 is 10 minutes.

My Thai bank ATM's in the major stores. Public transportation is decent, taxi fare reasonable for monthly trip to do banking downtown - by choice, a smaller branch is 11 minutes away.

 

Renting a 2BR house with indoor kitchen, fenced yard in gated THAI upper class community 4,500bt a month - great neighbors and friendly female soi dog & 3 cats. Fiber cable and TV box ( 5G ),  electric, water and garbage collection, averages under 5,000bt a month. 15,000bt food cost because we eat both Thai and Western food.

 

We live down the road in Phimai. Even cheaper. Got everything we need apart from decent restaurants. For that, we travel down to Pattaya once a month for a long weekend.